Vacuum fuel-feed system for motor-vehicles.



W. FALWELL.

VACUUM FUEL FEED SYSTEM FOR MOTOR VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED. JUNE 23. I915. 1,299,443. Patented Apr. 8, 1919.

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m R w Ra Q 1 5 E i Q m fl W w. FALWELL. VACUUNLFUEL FEED SYSTEM FOR MOTOR VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 23. I9I5.

Patented Apr. 8, 1919.

IIIII 'IIIIII/I/l W. FALWELL.

VACUUM FUEL FEED SYSTEM FOR MOTOR VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED. JUNE 23, I915- l,299,443. Patented Apr. 8,1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- (1110c n for ZM /l,

' UNITED STATES PATENT orricn- 'waAY ranwnnn', or rrrcnnune, MASSACHUSETTS.

VACUUM FUEL-FEED SYSTEM FOR MOTOR-VEHICLES.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, VVRAY FALWELL, a citizen ,of the United States, residing at Fitchburg, in the county of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented cer tain new and useful Improvements in Vacu um Fuel-Feed Systems for Motor-Vehicles,

. of which the following is a specification.

.The. invention'has'for an object to give an, improvement in fuel supply systems of internal combustion engines in which the vacuous condition produced in the inlet connectlons of the usual type of such enginesis utilized to'carry fuel from a main storage tank at a low level to an auxiliary tank at 'a high .level, from which the fuel may readily pass by gravity to the engine or the charge forming device. It is an important aim to provide a device of this type specially suitable for usejin motor vehicles. Another float action. Another purpose is to give a specific improvement in tandem valve construction by'whi'ch twovalves on acommon stem seating in the same direction will operate positively and differences in-wear will be compensated for automatically.

Additional objects, advantages and fea-. tures of invention will appear from the construction, arrangement and combination-of parts, constituting one embodiment of my invention as hereinafter set forth and more.

particularly. shown in the drawings, where,

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view ofa motor vehicle equipped with my invention, Fig. 2 is .an enlarged vertical sectional 'view of my auxiliary tank,

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical section at i right angles to' Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is a top view of the device.

Fig. 5 1s a cross section on the line 5 5 .Of Fig. 2',

Fig. 6 is a detail of the safety check valve, Fig. 7 is a detail of a fuel cut-off to the auxillary tank.

There is illustrated amotor vehicle 10 of.

familiar construction having an internal combustion motor 11 in the forward part Specification of Letters Patent.

.the back end of the vehicle a main fuel tank 14 is mounted. Immediately to the rear of the motor a dashboard 15 is located, upon I the upper part of which within the hood 16 over the'motor there is located my auxiliary 1 tank 17 This comprises a simple cylindrical or otherwise shaped receptacle 17 which in the present case is represented as a brass Patented Apr. 8, 1919.

Appl cation filed June 23, 1915. Serial No. 35,955.

casting with integral. attaching lugs 18' adapted 'to set against a flat' surface and being apertured for the reception of mounting screws or bolts. The receptacle is formed with a drain or outlet extension 19 having an enlarged bore 20 in its outer part 7 and a reduced threaded opening 21 therefrom in which there is engaged a screw valve seat 22. The outer part of the bore is threaded and formed with a peripheral rabbet 23. Engaged snugly on this rabbet therethrough which there isslidably inserted a v hollow. bolt 24' engaged in the threaded bore 20, by which the swivel chamber fitting 24' is held to a close union with the outlet extension. A drain cock 26 is engaged in the end of the bolt, and a suitable strainer '27 of cylindrical form is fixed in the bolt, the

passage through which is enlarged intermediately of the'strainer, and ports'28 formed in the bolt, communicating with the interior of-the chamber 24. The chamber is' formed with a boss 29 at one side tapped and fitted with a customary union 30, by which connection is made with the gravity supply pipe 31 leading to the carbureter, this pipe aving a, helical coil'32 therein for a purpose to be described.

The auxiliary tank is formed-with a rest '33 intermediately of itsh'eight, which in the present case consists of a flange having a flat upper side, extending around the tank. The

tank is formed with a thickened upper edge portion '34, drilled and tapped to receive fastening secured upon the tank, and by which it is hermetically closed.

At one side. of the plate 36 a boss 37 is formed, having a central inlet opening 38 therethrough tapped 'at its outside part to receive the hollow .bolt 39 under which the carrying flange 40 of a basket strainer 41 is secured, resting upon a shoulder 42 for that screws 35 by which a top plate 36 is purpose. The boss is formed with a peripheral rabbet in which there is seated a swivel member 43, the upper part of which has a close supply pipe 47 from the tank 14 through the boss 48 formed on the side of the swivel member 43.

A second boss 49 is formed on the plate 36 at its upper side and a corresponding boss 49 is formed thereunder on the lower side of the plate, a circular recess 50 being formed in the upper boss, centrally of which a threaded opening 51 is formed, in which there is engaged a bolt 52 by which 'a swivel connection 53 is held snugly against the 'boss, having a passage therein alined with the recess 50 and having a lateral outlet 54in which there is engaged a union 55 connected to the vacuum pipe 56, which leads to the manifold 12 and is connected thereto by a similar union 57 engaged in a cap opening made for the purpose in the manifold.

An' integral cylindrical body 58 is formed on the upper side of the plate 36 concentric with the seat in the screw seat 22 in the bottom of. the tank 17, having a concentric.

bored passage 59 therethrough at opposite ends of which seat members 60 are threaded in the body, having opposed seats on their inner sides. A cored by-pass duct 61 is formed in the body opening at one end on the inner face of the plate 36 beside the inner seat 60,

cap 63 threaded in the outer part of the recess. Opening into the recess 62 beside the outer seat 60 there is a cored duct 64 leading downwardly in the body 58 beside the passage 59, and then laterally to the recess 50, by which communication 1s established with the manifold. Vent ducts 67 open from the passage 59 horizontally at the base of' the body 58. y

A three-valve stem 65 is engaged slidably through the seats 60 from the tank 17, a cylindrical double valve body 66 being engaged thereonfitting snugly and slidably in the passage 59 between the seats 60. This valve is shaped at each end for alternative seating upon the seats 60, so that each end constitutes a valve. It has suflicient movement to fall well below the upper or outer end of the duct 61 when at the lower limit of-its movement, and likewise clear the opening of the vents 67 when at the upper limit of its movement. The stem 65 is of a size to give ample clearance therearound through the seats 60. It extends to near the bottom of' the tank, where it is .provided with a collar 68 just above its extremity, engaged reciprocably in a caging 69 carried at the upper side of a. fuel valve 70, a light spring 71 being confined between the valve and col,- lar, by which the valve is yieldably held at the outer and lower limit of its movement on the stem 65. In this position, under downward movement of the stem, it will seat a little before the valve 66 engages the lower seat 60, when the spring 71 yields and permits thenecessary further movement for seating of the valve 66 upon the lower seat.

60. The valve is formed with a needle extension 72 engaged through the seat 22, which has a port therethrough of larger di ameter, permitting proper flow of fuel when the valve is raised. v

Two hangers 73 are formed on the under side of the plate 36 equally spaced diametrically from the stem 65, upon which short links 74 are pivoted, connected also'to the' stem 65 in such a way as to permit full movement thereof for alternate seating of the valve 66 on the seats 60. This means that the connection would have to be loose enough to permit a slight degree of lost motion between the links 74 and stem 65. An annular float 75 is mounted in the tank 17 for free vertical movement therein, and adapted to rest upon the rest 33 at the lower limit of its movement, At opposite sides thereof, inline with the hangers 73, upwardly extending links 76 are pivoted on top of the float, having longitudinal slots 77 in their upper end portions in which there are slidable transverse pins 78 to each of which are connected two links 78' extending inwardly and pivoted on respective sides of the adjacent hangers 73. There may be two of the links 74 from each. hanger to'the stem 65, and these are connected to a pin 79 rigidly fixed through the stem 65 projecting some distance beyond the links, as

do the pins ,78. From each pin 78, two springs 80 extend to the pin 7 9 one on each side of the links. These springs are under retractile tension, so that when the springs swing below the pivotal connection of the links with the hangers the springs will exert a downward pull on the stem 65 by which H the valve 7 0 will be seated,-cutting oif communication with the carbureter and communication with the vents at the top of the tank will be closed by the valve 66 engaging the lower seat 60. At the same time the port in the upper seat is opened, forming communication between the tank and the intake of the motor, producing a partial vacuum, which is sufficient to draw fuel through the pipe 47 from a considerably lower level.

With the parts connected as described, the I pipe 47 being arranged .to take fuel from the bottom of the tank 14, fuel being supplied and the motor in operation, when the parts in the tank are in the position lastwhich will rise for a short distance without .moving, the links 78, by reason of the free movement of'the pin 78 in the slot 77, which comprises a lost motion connection. As soon as this pin engages the lower end of the slot it will be lifted, raising the spring, and when the springs pass above the ivotal connection between the links and angers the links 78 will first move to their u per limit of oscillation, which will cause t e springs to exert a strong upward pull on the valve stem 65. The springs and links 78- are limited in their springing movement by suitable lugs 81 formed on the hangers 73 a suitable distance above and below the links 7 8 for engagement therewith at the proper limits. Upon swinging upwardly the pins carried at the outer ends of the links 78 will stop short of the upper ends of the slots 77, for a purpose to appear. When the rod 65 israised, it will be apparent that the communication with the intake of the motor will be cut off by engagement of the valve 66 with the up er seat 60. This movement will also be sulffcient to unseat the valve 7 0, and the vents being opened by the valve 66 in this position fuel will be free to pass to the carbureter.

As the fuel level is lowered in the tank the float will fall, moving downwardly a short distance before the links 76 engage positively with the pins 78, and continued movement of the float will then draw the pins downwardly, movingthe links 78' and the springs, which will soon pass below the p vot centers on the hangers, snapping the links to their lowermost position and pulllng downward on the stem 65 with the result before mentioned. The downward movement of the links 78 will be checked before the pins 78 engage the lower ends of the slots 77, so that immediate riding of the float for a short distance will not raise the spring, and the tank will receive a considerable amount of fuel before the action of the device is reversed.

If it is desired to guard against dangers from back fire in the motor and the possibility of an explosion in either of the tanks a small check valve 82 may be incorporated in the recess 62 as shown in Fig. 6.

With the device as shown it is desirable to mount the tank 17 as high as possible above the main tank when used on motor vehicles in the relation shown in Fig. 1, in order to minimize liability of the auxiliary tank siphoning full and wasting fuel. If desired, however, a positive closure of the fuel feed may be attained, as shown in Fig. 7, where connections and fittings corresponding to those previously described in the outlet extension are engaged and fitted in the boss 37 with the exception ofthe basket strainer 41, the parts being inverted from the position first described, a screw seat 22* being engaged in the passage 38, with the seat presented downwardly. A small cage 83 is formed integrally on the under side of the plate 36 beneath the seat 22, including aplate 84 spaced below the seat and having a concentric opening therethrough. Loosely and slidably engaged. in this opening there is a long stem 85 of a small valve 86 normally resting by gravity on the plate 84 in disengaged position, the lower endof the stem being positioned to engage the upper side of the float just before it reaches the upper limit of its movement, whereby the valve will be seated, operating to prevent siphoning.

It is an advantage of the lost-motion connection between the float and valve control that liability of abrupt and repeated reversals of operation ofthe device is eliminated, which without this connection. has been found to prevent proper action of devices of this kind at times under prior methods of construction. The construction set forth .has been found to enable the use of a single reservoir auxiliary with very satisfactory results. The construction and assemblage of the device are simple, inexpensive and durable, and the parts readily accwsible for cleaning without liability of derangement.

While, in the use of the foregoing oonstructionthe fuel suppl from the auxiliary tank is cut off during t e time when fuel is being drawn thereinto, the time required for complete refilling of the auxiliary tank is so short that no detrimental effect is manifest in the operation of. the motor, even at very high speeds, as the carbureter carries more than suflicient fuel to operate the engine for the very few seconds in which it has been found necessary for the fuel to be cut olf from the auxiliary tank. By providing the coils 32 the elasticity of the fuel ordinarilyv used allows a continued flow of fuel to the carbureter for a time after the valve is seated.

In order to start the system after incorporation on a vehicle, if there is no fuel in the carburetor or other charge forming device used, it will be apparent that the parts are in position for filling of the auxiliary tank if the engine is operated, and it is found that a few turns of the motor by hand or starting device is sufiicient to complete a cycle ofaction in the parts of the auxiliary tank supplying fuel to the charge forming device, the throttle being closed in the ordinary way during this initial operation.

It is to be noted that in some of my claims valves and some of the connections therefor are only specified to control the exhaust connection and the drain connection from the auxiliary tank. The reasonfor this is that by properly proportioning the exhaust and air vent passages or capacity, no other Valves are essential.

What is claimed:

1. In a device of the class described, an auxiliary tank having fuel inlet and outlet connections, air inlet and outlet connections, the three connections last named including alined valve seats, the seat of the air. outlet being disposed oppositely toithoseof the other two connections, valves disposed for engagement with said seats, and a common operatin outlet va ves being spaced for alternate seating, the air inlet and fuel outlet valves normally spaced more than the respective corresponding seats, yielding connections between said fuel outlet valve and-said stem member, and a fuel-controlled device opera tank at the upper part at opposite sides of the reciprocable means, a float in the tank,

outwardly extending links on saidsup'ports, spring elements connected with the outer ends of the links and the reciprocable member, means to limitoscillation'of the links, and lost motion connections between the float and the outer ends of the links,

3. In adevice of the class described, opposed valve seats, valves therefor, means connecting the valves in a relation for alternate seating engagement, a third seat, presented in the direction corresponding to that of one of the first named seats, a third valve therefor, a lost motion connection between stem therefor, the air inlet and a tank,

the last named valve and said means connecting the first named valves, and a resllient element coengaged between said means and said third valve.-

4. In a device of the class described, valve seats presented ina common direction, valves therefor, a common operating memvalves and said operating member, said one valve last named being positioned to seat in advance of the other valve, and the resilient connection being in individual train between the valve and operatin member, whereby the one valve may yiel to pressure of its seatuntil the other is seated.

5; In a device of the class described, a tank, a closure fitting therefor comprising a body having a valve passage therein communicating at one end with the interior of the tank and having duct connections at its otherend, opposed seats at opposite ends of the passage, a by-pass duct leading from an outer part of the passage inwardly of the outer seat and in communication with the tank, external duct connections with said passage outwardly of the-outer seat, vent connection with the passage outwardly of the inner seat, and a valve device-reciprocable in the passage having portions to alternatively engage the outer seat on the one hand and the inner seat and the vent opening on the other, and fuel controlled means to operate the valve device. v

In testimony whereof I haveaflixed my signature in presence of two-witnesses.

DANIEL A. Romans, HENRY P. Oormnn. 

